Trump contradicts himself on Obamacare attack

Eliza Collins, USA TODAY , KING7:04 PM. EDT October 25, 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump addresses supporters at a rally on the tarmac of the Orlando-Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida on October 25, 2016. (Photo: GREGG NEWTON, Custom)

Donald Trump muddled his attack on Obamacare during an event in Florida Tuesday, implying first that his own employees didn’t receive health care coverage, then saying they didn't have to worry about Obamacare because they had access to health care benefits.

Trump was holding an event with workers at the Trump National Doral Miami Resort one day after the federal exchanges opened for Healthcare.gov and regulators announced that some rates are set to increase 25%.

It was a moment the Republican candidate sought to capitalize on.

"And I can say all of my employees are having a tremendous problem with Obamacare,” Trump said.

But moments later, Trump said that his employees didn’t have to worry about their health care because his businesses “take great care of people.”

After the event was over, David Feder, the general manager of the resort, came out and spoke with reporters and attempted to clarify.

According to the pool report, Feder said he thinks the Trump Organization pays for health care for 95% of the company.

"The company typically picks up 75% of the premiums and the employee only picks up about 30%, so it's really a good deal for our staff," Feder said. "There really isn't a need for the vast majority of our employees to purchase Obamacare."

But Feder was hesitant to say Trump was incorrect in his previous statement because some people — he used seasonal workers as an example — may use Obamacare.

"I wouldn't say he's incorrect. I would tell you that the only employees that I know — again I don't have the books in front of me — that may purchase Obamacare are typically part-timers," Feder said.

When the Trump campaign was asked to clarify what exactly the GOP presidential nominee had meant, a spokesman referred USA TODAY to Feder's comments.